Leading Orthodox Union member to speak on science and religion - New Date

The talk, entitled How a Biblically-based Religion Can Embrace Science, will be given at the Cambridge Union Society Debating Chamber by Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb, the executive vice president of the Orthodox Union. It has been arranged by the Gates Scholars' Council and is open to Gates scholars and their guests.

Rabbi Weinreb, a clinical psychologist, has spoken of his views that the theory of evolution is consistent with the traditional Jewish view of the origin of the universe or the development of humanity. He has also stated that, although he finds Intelligent Design impressive, he believes the idea that the complexity of the universe is proof of the existence of a creator is a faith issue, rather than a science one, and, as such, should have no place in the curricula of public schools in the US because of the separation of the Church from the State. In religious schools he believes evolution should be taught in science and Intelligent Design should be taught in courses of Jewish thought.

Rabbi Weinreb is described as "one of the most extraordinary leaders in the American Jewish community today". He was appointed to his current position in the Orthodox Union in January 2002. The OU is one of the oldest and largest Orthodox Jewish organisations in the United States and is best known for its role in certifying products as kosher. It also maintains a wide variety of religious, educational, social action and public policy programmes.

The Gates Scholars' Council organise regular public lectures by well known international speakers. Gates scholars are funded by The Gates Cambridge Trust which was established in 2000 as a result of a $210million benefaction to Cambridge from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The Trust awards full-cost scholarships to students from outside the UK to study as postgraduates at Cambridge.

Ian Ralby, external officer of the Gates Scholars' Council, said: "We are delighted to have the opportunity to hear from Rabbi Dr. Weinreb about his views on the intersection of religion, science and education--three topics which are fundamental to the University of Cambridge. Rabbi Weinreb is an extremely important figure in Orthodox Jewry, so it is a great honour to present him to the Cambridge community as the first of our Lent Term speakers in the Gates
Distinguished Lecture Series."

Rabbi Weinreb came to the OU from Congregation Shomrei Emunah in Baltimore, where he served as spiritual leader and built the congregation from 160 to more than 400 families.

He has a Masters in Psychology from the New School for Social Research and a PhD from the University of Maryland and, before becoming a pulpit rabbi, was a school psychologist for Prince George's County Public Schools in Maryland and Chief Psychologist of the Potomac
Foundation for Mental Health, and also ran his own private psychotherapy practice.

Rabbi Weinreb will speak at the Cambridge Union Society Debating Chamber at 5pm on 4 February and will take questions after his talk.